From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 6 15:28:56 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2020 21:28:56 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_July_6?= =?Windows-1252?Q?-10?= Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D653AA.28F41980] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2020 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of July 6-10. All times local. TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 Governor Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall to provide information and answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Idaho. The hour-long conversation begins at 12 p.m. Participants can join by dialing toll-free 866-767-0637 or register in advance by visiting https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/. THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 Governor Little will host a press conference regarding Idaho?s K-12 Reopening Plan and Stage 4 of Idaho Rebounds at 12 p.m. in the Lincoln Auditorium. The conference will be streamed to the public online. Media planning to attend should bring credentials and wear a face mask. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jul 9 11:59:57 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 9 Jul 2020 17:59:57 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little pushes for in-person instruction in Idaho schools this fall Message-ID: ? [cid:image001.png at 01D655E2.03A8C3D0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2020 Gov. Little pushes for in-person instruction in Idaho schools this fall Boise, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little and education leaders rolled out the new Idaho Back to School Framework today, providing guidance to local officials in their decisions about the safe reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Governor Little emphasized the importance of students returning to school for in-person instruction, and the need for all Idahoans to slow the spread of COVID-19 in order to minimize disruptions in education delivery. ?We do know the 2020-2021 school year will not look the same as in previous years, but the expectation is that schools will not be closed for extended periods of time. Before coronavirus, too many Idaho students faced a significant achievement gap and ongoing risks to their mental and social wellbeing. It?s imperative that students return to their classrooms and interact directly with their teachers and classmates at the end of the summer,? Governor Little said. The Idaho Back to School Framework sets expectations for reopening in the fall, provides support for local governance and decision-making, and offers guidance and best practices on the key operational components of reopening. It is available on the State Department of Education?s web site at https://www.sde.idaho.gov/re-opening/ and the State Board of Education?s web site at https://boardofed.idaho.gov/covid-19/. Governor Little also announced that Idaho will remain in the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan for another two weeks. ?We cannot succeed in rebounding our economy and safely send children back to school if we do not individually and collectively take steps now to slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities,? Governor Little added. Information on the stages of reopening is available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/. Idaho shifted to a regional or localized approach in the response to COVID-19. Local public health officials and mayors have the authority to put in place more restrictive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in their communities. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 10 14:56:03 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2020 20:56:03 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_July_1?= =?Windows-1252?Q?3-17?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D656CA.3A9F4FB0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2020 There are currently no public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of July 13-17. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 13 11:37:41 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 17:37:41 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little seeks applicants for Economic Advisory Council Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6590A.0406FC40] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2020 Gov. Little seeks applicants for Economic Advisory Council Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Department of Commerce are seeking applicants for the Economic Advisory Council, the group that outlines goals and objectives that further economic development within the state. Vacancies are open for residents of Region 2 - Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis or Idaho counties - and residents of Region 6 - Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Teton or Bonneville counties. The council makes recommendations to the Governor on applications for Community Development and Rural Community Block Grant funding and reviews Tax Reimbursement Incentive applications. Additionally, council members advise their regions on economic development opportunities and represent their interests to state government. The council includes seven members appointed by the Governor, with one member appointed from each of the state's seven economic development regions, and one member appointed at-large. Members serve three-year terms and can be reappointed. No more than five members of the economic advisory council shall be from any one political party. One person shall be appointed to represent each of the seven planning regions of the state, of which the appointee shall be a resident, and one member shall serve in a statewide capacity. Successful candidates will reside in either Region 2 or Region 6 and be affiliated with a political party in Idaho. Candidates should apply by filling out the Application for Appointment and Authorization for Background Check available at https://gov.idaho.gov/appointments/, and include a resume. Applications are due Friday, August 7, 2020. The Governor's Office and the Idaho Department of Commerce will review all applications and interview potential candidates. For more information regarding the Economic Advisory Council, please visit the following web sites: https://commerce.idaho.gov/communities/economic-advisory-council/ https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title67/t67ch47/sect67-4704/ https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title67/T67CH47/SECT67-4703/ # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 13 16:43:32 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2020 22:43:32 +0000 Subject: 10,000 Return to Work bonuses sought during first day of opening Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D65934.BE403A20] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 13, 2020 10,000 Return to Work bonuses sought during first day of opening Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little announced that more than 10,000 Idaho Return to Work bonuses were sought for employees by nearly 2,000 Idaho businesses today - the first day of the application window opening. "The incredibly strong response from employers in our Return to Work Bonuses indicates businesses absolutely need this incentive in order to get their employees back to work," Governor Little said. "There's a reason President Trump and Congressional Republicans are looking to Idaho - hard-hit businesses need all the help they can get now that our economy is open and jobs are coming back." The Return to Work bonuses are Idaho's approach to counteracting enhanced federal benefits that discourage workers returning to jobs. More than 60-percent of Americans who are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic earn more with enhanced unemployment benefits than their normal wages. "The Return to Work bonuses are based on a fundamental conservative principle - we do not want people on unemployment. We want people working. We're responding to the needs of businesses, strengthening our workforce and economic rebound, and saving taxpayer dollars in the long run," Governor Little added. Idaho set aside $100 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to cover the bonuses. One-time cash bonuses of up to $1,500 for full-time work and up to $750 for part-time work and will be provided to the worker after return to the workplace. The funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis (based on date of return to work) for qualified applicants. "A strong economic rebound cannot occur without workers returning to a job, and the Return to Work cash bonuses counteract the federal payouts and incentivize our workforce to get back to work safely," Governor Little said. Employers apply for the bonuses on behalf of their employees. Eligibility requirements and information on how to apply are available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/return-to-work-bonuses/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Wed Jul 15 15:14:23 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2020 21:14:23 +0000 Subject: Dozens of cities, counties submit letters of intent to support public safety, pass savings onto property taxpayers Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D65ABA.9E0C2020] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 15, 2020 Dozens of cities, counties submit letters of intent to support public safety, pass savings onto property taxpayers Boise, Idaho - Twenty-five cities and ten counties in Idaho have signed letters of intent to participate in Governor Brad Little's plan that leverages federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries and gives cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers. The move is expected to provide up to $200 million in property tax relief, or a 10-20-percent reduction in your property tax bill this year - but only if your city or county opts in. "Our focus is to support our communities and our police, fire, and EMS personnel and ensure there are no reductions in public safety during these unprecedented challenges. I appreciate the cities and counties working with us to ensure the resulting budget savings are given back to the people of Idaho in the form of property tax relief rather than backfilling local government budgets," Governor Little said. Every city and county in Idaho is eligible and must submit a letter of intent to participate by 5 p.m. MST Friday. The letter of intent must be e-mailed to CFAC at dfm.idaho.gov. "I'm pleased by the strong response from cities and counties opting in. The program will keep our communities safe by ensuring our local public safety and public health agencies are well-funded during this pandemic. The program has the added benefit of providing property tax relief to the citizens of those cities and counties that choose to participate," Governor Little said. Cities that have submitted a letter of intent include: Boise Nampa Meridian Coeur d'Alene Twin Falls Caldwell Rexburg Chubbuck Jerome Sun Valley Rathdrum Buhl McCall Bonners Ferry Weiser Preston Kellogg Rigby St. Anthony Sandpoint Osburn Pinehurst Challis Inkom Homedale Counties that have submitted a letter of intent include: Canyon Jefferson Fremont Madison Boundary Gooding Idaho Clearwater Owyhee Camas The U.S. Treasury Department guidance gives the Governor the discretion to determine what expenditures are necessary due to the public health emergency. The Governor studied the issued and concluded that the new program is a necessary and appropriate use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, and communicated the establishment of the program to the U.S. Treasury in July, at the request of the counties. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jul 16 14:52:58 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 20:52:58 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little meets with President Trump, White House officials on regulatory innovation, COVID-19 Message-ID: ? [cid:image001.png at 01D65B78.A745C920] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 16, 2020 Gov. Little meets with President Trump, White House officials on regulatory innovation, COVID-19 Boise, Idaho ? Governor Brad Little spent today at the White House meeting with President Donald Trump and Trump administration officials on topics that included cutting government red tape to support America?s economic rebound, the availability of COVID-19 testing supplies for Idaho, Mountain Home Air Force Base, and others. The Governor?s schedule included: * Regulatory Innovation and Cutting Red Tape Announcement ? Governor Little joined President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other officials on the South Lawn of the White House to announce that the federal government and states across the country will ramp up efforts to streamline burdensome regulations that hinder economic development. Idaho?s success in cutting red tape serves as an example for other states and the federal government to follow. Idaho became the least-regulated state in the country during Governor Little?s first year as governor. The state cut and simplified 75-percent of rules in a matter of months. Additional regulatory changes in Idaho this year improved Idaho?s response to COVID-19 by increasing healthcare capacity and access to telehealth services. * Meeting with U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) about COVID-19 ? Governor Little had a productive meeting with leading infectious disease expert Dr. Tammy Beckham of HHS on COVID-19 testing capacity in Idaho. The HHS indicated additional swabs would be sent to Idaho today, following Governor Little?s request. Governor Little communicated Idaho?s testing needs as students return to school next month and as more Idahoans return to work. He expects to see an increase in the availability of testing supplies for Idaho following the meeting. * Roundtable on State-Federal Regulatory Innovation and Cutting Red Tape ? Governor Little joined state and federal officials in discussing how to achieve meaningful regulatory reductions to support America?s economic rebound. Participants included Andrew Wheeler, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Larry Kudlow, Assistant to the President and director of the National Economic Council; Brooke Rollins, Assistant to the President and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council; Paul Ray, administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, and other state and federal officials. * Meeting with U.S. Treasury ? Following a call with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Wednesday night, Governor Little met with Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury Dan Kowalski and White House staff about Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding and Idaho?s emphasis on using the funds to get Idahoans back to work and to support small business and public safety. * Meeting with U.S. Air Force ? Governor Little met with U.S. Air Force officials about strengthening the future of the Mountain Home Air Force Base. Photos and videos of the trip will continue to be posted to Governor Little?s social media accounts at https://www.facebook.com/governorbradlittle and https://twitter.com/GovernorLittle. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 20 12:26:44 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:26:44 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little applauds federal court decision supporting Idaho health insurance option Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D65E90.0C59ED90] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2020 Gov. Little applauds federal court decision supporting Idaho health insurance option Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little applauded a federal court decision that supports Idaho's approach for Enhanced Short-term Plans, a healthcare insurance option that provides better protection against preexisting condition exclusions and more robust benefits in areas where traditional short-term plans have fallen short. "Many Idaho families have been priced out of Affordable Care Act coverage, and the D.C. Circuit decision assures Idahoans access to additional, affordable coverage options that could make sense for their needs," said Governor Little. Idaho's Enhanced Short-term Plans are similar or better actuarial value than ACA Bronze level plans at significantly lower prices. Enhanced Short-term Plans are (1) guaranteed issue, meaning a consumer may not be denied, (2) guaranteed renewable, meaning a consumer cannot be force out up to 36 months, and (3) are convertible to ACA plans. Enhanced Short-term Plans should not be confused with traditional short-term plans, and both types of coverage are offered in the state. On July 17, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a 2-1 decision that the administration had the legal authority to increase the duration of the health plans from three to 12 months, with the option of renewing them for 36 months. During the Obama Administration, short-term plans were limited to three months, stemming from concerns that healthy people were exiting the ACA (Affordable Care Act) marketplaces. In 2018, the Trump Administration rewrote the rules, allowing customers to purchase short-term plans for up to 12 months with the option to renew them twice. The ruling affirms the ability of all short-term plans, including Idaho's Enhanced Short-term Plans, which are comprehensive plans with essential health benefits that provide an alternative for Idaho families needing affordable coverage, especially those who are unable to obtain the more expensive ACA plans or do not qualify for a subsidy. Idaho had submitted an amicus brief in support of the Trump Administration and in support of economical health care choices for Idaho families. In 2019, Governor Little signed House Bill 275 after the Idaho Legislature nearly unanimously passed the bill. The legislation called for the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) to establish Enhanced Short-term Plans. Since then, DOI has approved five plans and rates. Of these five plans, three plans are offered by Blue Cross of Idaho and two plans are offered by SelectHealth. Other health insurance carriers are expected to follow in their footsteps. Nearly 3,000 Idahoans have purchased Enhanced Short-term Plans as of June 30, 2020. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 20 12:29:10 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:29:10 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_July_2?= =?Windows-1252?Q?0-24?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D65E91.5DCCF3B0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 20, 2020 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of July 20-24. All times local. TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 Governor Little will chair the Land Board meeting in the Lincoln Auditorium at 9 a.m. Governor Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall to provide information and answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Idaho. The hour-long conversation begins at 12 p.m. Participants can join by dialing toll-free 866-767-0637 or register in advance by visiting https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Mon Jul 20 13:54:15 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:54:15 +0000 Subject: Majority of Idaho cities, counties submit letters of intent to support public safety, pass savings onto property taxpayers Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D65E9D.40E5D990] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2020 Majority of Idaho cities, counties submit letters of intent to support public safety, pass savings onto property taxpayers Boise, Idaho - Fifty-four cities and 28 counties submitted letters of intent to participate in Governor Brad Little's plan that leverages federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries and gives cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers. The interest in the plan exceeded the funds available, so a pro rata allocation will cover approximately 44-percent of local government payroll costs. Under the plan, Idaho property taxpayers in participating cities or counties could see a 10- to 20-percent one-time reduction in their property taxes this year. The U.S. Treasury Department guidance gives the Governor the discretion to determine what expenditures are necessary due to the public health emergency. The Governor studied the issued and concluded that the new program is a necessary and appropriate use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds, and communicated the establishment of the program to the U.S. Treasury in July, at the request of the counties. "Our focus is to support our communities and our police, fire, and EMS personnel and ensure there are no reductions in public safety during these unprecedented challenges. I appreciate the cities and counties working with us to ensure the resulting budget savings are given back to the people of Idaho in the form of property tax relief rather than backfilling local government budgets. As a fiscal conservative, I believe all federal funds - which are taxpayer funds - should be managed prudently and judiciously on behalf of all taxpayers. Wasteful spending simply creates debt obligations for our children and grandchildren. The Trump Administration has praised Idaho's conservative approach to managing the federal relief funds, and I am committed to continue acting as a responsible steward of scarce taxpayer resources," Governor Little said. Cities and counties that submitted letters of intent to participate include: American Falls Ammon Arimo Ashton Bellevue Blackfoot Boise Bonners Ferry Buhl Burley Caldwell Challis Chubbuck Coeur d'Alene Eagle Filer Garden City Grangeville Hailey Homedale Horseshoe Bend Idaho City Idaho Falls Inkom Jerome Kellogg Kimberly Lewiston McCall Meridian Middleton Moscow Nampa Orofino Osburn Parma Payette Pinehurst Pocatello Post Falls Preston Rathdrum Rexburg Rigby Salmon Sandpoint Shoshone Soda Springs Spirit Lake St. Anthony Star Sun Valley Twin Falls Weiser Adams County Ada County Bannock County Bingham County Blaine County Boise County Bonner County Bonneville County Boundary County Butte County Camas County Canyon County Clearwater County Elmore County Fremont County Gem County Gooding County Idaho County Jefferson County Jerome County Kootenai County Latah County Lincoln County Madison County Owyhee County Payette County Power County Twin Falls County # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jul 23 11:50:36 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 17:50:36 +0000 Subject: Gov. Little highlights state-local collaboration in COVID-19 response during statewide media events Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D660E7.7A487890] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 23, 2020 Gov. Little highlights state-local collaboration in COVID-19 response during statewide media events Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little joined public health district directors today during statewide media events to highlight the strong state-local collaboration taking place in Idaho's response to COVID-19. "When it comes to our public health response, our plans for school reopening, and our support for businesses across Idaho, we are focused on working closely with local officials and local leaders," Governor Little said. "Strong state-local collaboration is needed to protect Idahoans' health, get our kids safely back to school, and continue our economic rebound." Governor Little also announced Idaho will remain in Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds plan for at least another two weeks. Additional information is available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/. Governor Little said he supports city officials and local public health districts as they adopt measures to slow COVID-19 spread in their communities in order to preserve healthcare capacity and protect lives. In March and April, the statewide approach was appropriate because there was not enough personal protective equipment for businesses and healthcare workers, testing and contract tracing were limited, and some parts of Idaho faced alarming healthcare capacity constraints. Although increased COVID-19 spread is occurring in Ada, Canyon, Twin Falls, Bonneville, and Kootenai counties, some parts of Idaho still have no confirmed cases and no community spread of the disease, making the local approach to decision making appropriate at this time. Governor Little encourages Idaho citizens and businesses to take the ONE Idaho pledge by committing to wear masks when appropriate, practice physical distancing, washing hands and surfaces regularly, and staying home when sick. Information is available at https://one.idaho.gov/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 24 09:50:55 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:50:55 +0000 Subject: Additional funds to cover COVID-19 testing for school staff, more supplies to open schools safely Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D6619F.5FC94A90] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2020 Additional funds to cover COVID-19 testing for school staff, more supplies to open schools safely Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee approved an additional $40 million today to increase and improve COVID-19 testing in Idaho and an additional $10 million to equip schools with supplies needed to open safely. "Our number one focus is to get our kids back in school safely for in-person instruction, and the additional funds approved today help get us there. Before coronavirus, too many Idaho students faced a significant achievement gap and ongoing risks to their mental and social wellbeing. It's imperative that students return to their classrooms and interact directly with their teachers and classmates," Governor Little said. Details on the new funds include: * $21 million to test school staff, who are identified as a priority group by the Testing Task Force * $10 million to cover additional masks, gloves, sanitizer, and plexiglass for Idaho schools as they reopen * $13 million to improve testing in long-term care facilities * $3 million to increase testing lab turnaround time and capacity as well as lab upgrades * $3 million to increase access to testing in rural Idaho by leveraging Idaho pharmacists and pharmacies in testing efforts In addition to the $43.1 million in federal relief funds that Idaho already has directed to support public schools, additional resources have been directed to K-12 public education, including $33.8 million to support blended learning, $3.2 million for the Idaho Digital Learning Academy, $4 million to cover personal protective equipment in schools and costs associated with moving to online learning, $1 million for remote student mental health support, and $6 million for additional K-12 support such as K-3 reading remediation and remote STEM education opportunities. Between direct federal support for schools and the Governor's actions through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a total of $122.2 million has been committed to K-12 public education for the next school year. Citizens and businesses are encouraged to take the ONE Idaho pledge to slow the spread of coronavirus. Details are at https://one.idaho.gov/. Additional details on the funding requests approved today are available at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cfac-dhw-testing-proposal.pdf and https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cfac-admin-ppe-proposal.pdf. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.png Type: image/png Size: 47149 bytes Desc: image001.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 24 10:20:58 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:20:58 +0000 Subject: OPINION: Idaho state budget well positioned to handle ongoing impacts of COVID-19 Message-ID: [A close up of a logo Description automatically generated] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2020 Idaho state budget well positioned to handle ongoing impacts of COVID-19 By Governor Brad Little Idaho just ended its fiscal year with a surplus nearly three times what was expected before COVID-19. How, in the middle of a global pandemic, did we manage to do that? Through conservative principles of governing. In late March, shortly after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Idaho, I asked state government agencies to do what businesses and families across Idaho were having to do - tighten their belts. I called for agencies to cut spending and freeze hiring and any planned salary increases. We were one of the first states to announce a formal holdback. Conservative revenue forecasting also contributed to our relatively positive budget situation. With the support of the Legislature, we used a more conservative revenue forecast than in previous years in order to provide a greater cushion at fiscal year-end. We also moved the tax filing deadline to June 15, giving citizens more time to file their taxes but kept filings in the same fiscal year. Other liberal states had to look for ways to cover shortfalls. We've also taken steps to catalyze Idaho's economic rebound. Idaho was one of the last states with a confirmed COVID-19 case and one of the first states with a plan to safely and responsibly open our economy in stages. In fact, Idaho was ranked as the number one state for economic momentum during the pandemic because of our wage growth and employment figures. While other states already withdrew approximately $1.7 billion from their rainy-day funds during COVID-19, we strengthened Idaho's rainy-day funds with year-end transfers. We anticipate having close to $580 million in reserve. This will prepare us well for the coming years. I'm not trying to be overly optimistic about our budget situation. We anticipate there will be a three- to four-year budget impact because of COVID-19. However, ending our fiscal year with a large surplus means Idaho is well positioned to deal with the ongoing economic reality of living during a global pandemic. We will be able to carry over the surplus into the current fiscal year and minimize service disruption to Idahoans. While other states are facing twenty- to forty-percent cuts, I have asked Idaho state government to prepare for a five-percent holdback this fiscal year. Holdbacks are never easy, but a lot of states would love to be in our position right now. Thankfully, Idaho's public school system will be minimally impacted by COVID-19 in the new fiscal year because of our efforts to strategically leverage federal funds to offset planned reductions. Fiscal conservativism elsewhere in the budget combined with the relief funds we directed to K-12 mean teachers, students, and parents won't feel as much of an impact in schools like they will in other states. Between direct federal support for schools and our actions through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a total of $122.2 million has been committed to K-12 public education for the next school year. I've said it before - it's what you do in the good years that sets you up for failure or success. Under criticism from some, the Legislature and I chose to pad our rainy-day funds during times of economic prosperity, so we are better able to weather economic downturns like the one we are experiencing across the country now. I want to thank my partners in the Legislature who have helped position our state for a strong economic rebound. These are uncertain, challenging times but we are far better off here than elsewhere right now, thanks to our focus on fiscal conservatism in state government. # # # 592 words -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 10484 bytes Desc: image001.jpg URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 24 14:06:55 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2020 20:06:55 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_July_2?= =?Windows-1252?Q?7-31?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D656CA.3A9F4FB0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 24, 2020 There are currently no public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of July 27-31. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Thu Jul 30 16:27:17 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2020 22:27:17 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Little_applauds_U.S._Supreme_Court_decision_uph?= =?Windows-1252?Q?olding_Idaho=92s_election_sovereignty_?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D6668E.49924440] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2020 Governor Little applauds U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Idaho?s election sovereignty Boise, Idaho ? The following is a statement from Governor Brad Little regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Reclaim Idaho must stop collecting signatures for a fall ballot initiative: ?I am pleased that the Supreme Court upheld Idaho?s sovereignty over its election and initiative processes. It is important that initiatives follow the laws set by the Idaho Legislature so we can ensure those initiatives that get on the ballot are legitimate and have significant support throughout Idaho. This is a challenging time, and I am grateful for the work of our election officials who are preparing to conduct free and safe elections this fall in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.? ? Governor Brad Little Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the order that Idaho?s existing initiative laws ?are almost certainly justified by the important regulatory interests in combatting fraud and ensuring that ballots are not cluttered with initiatives that have not demonstrated sufficient grassroots support.? He went on to recognize the State?s ?sovereign interests in enforcement of initiative requirements that are likely consistent with the First Amendment.? He also noted that if Reclaim Idaho?s initiative does not appear on the ballot this year, ?that consequence is attributable at least in part to Reclaim Idaho, which ?delayed unnecessarily? its pursuit of relief until more than a month after the deadline for submitting signatures.? # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 67670 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 31 14:32:05 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 20:32:05 +0000 Subject: =?Windows-1252?Q?Governor_Brad_Little=92s_calendar_for_the_week_of_August?= =?Windows-1252?Q?_3-7?= Message-ID: [cid:image003.png at 01D66747.5C2B7860] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2020 Included below is information on some of the public events on Governor Brad Little?s calendar for the week of August 3-7. All times local. TUESDAY, August 4, 2020 Governor Little will host a statewide AARP telephone town hall to provide information and answer questions regarding COVID-19 in Idaho. The hour-long conversation begins at 12 p.m. Participants can join by dialing toll-free 866-767-0637 or register in advance by visiting https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or Marissa.Morrison at gov.idaho.gov -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image003.png Type: image/png Size: 68980 bytes Desc: image003.png URL: From id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov Fri Jul 31 14:32:16 2020 From: id_gov_news at gov.idaho.gov (Gov. Brad Little) Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2020 20:32:16 +0000 Subject: Idaho supports thousands of businesses and citizens during pandemic Message-ID: [cid:image001.png at 01D66747.62D73BE0] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2020 Idaho supports thousands of businesses and citizens during pandemic Boise, Idaho - Governor Brad Little reported today on the success of several programs that have supported Idaho businesses and citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. * Idaho Rebound Cash Grants for small businesses - More than $75 million was distributed to more than 8,700 Idaho small businesses in cash payments of up to $10,000. The Idaho Rebound Cash Grants helped the smallest of Idaho businesses impacted by COVID-19, from the self-employed to companies with under 50 employees. * Local government authority to support businesses - The state directed $94 million in coronavirus relief money to local governments - money they can choose to direct to support local businesses. Local leaders know their communities best, and they will identify how to further support businesses impacted by COVID-19. * Return to Work incentives - More than 26,000 employees received $25.7 million in Return to Work bonuses. More than 4,300 employers took advantage of the program to incentivize their workers to safely return to a job instead of continuing to collect unemployment benefits. President Donald Trump, White House officials, and Congressional Republicans are looking to Idaho's conservative program to save taxpayer dollars and further rebound the economy. * PPE for small businesses - Since May, the State of Idaho has distributed 4,233 orders of masks, gloves, and sanitizer worth $1,082,150 to Idaho small businesses and non-profit organizations. The short-term program helps small businesses get back to work safely and build consumer confidence by allowing them to acquire PPE in quantities appropriate for their size while the supply chain normalized. Small businesses can continue to use Supplies.Idaho.Gov before Aug. 31 to access a 30-day supply of PPE. Protective supplies now are readily available from both specialty and traditional retailers, and a list of available vendors is available at IdahoPPEexchange.com. * Public safety initiative - The majority of Idaho cities and counties submitted letters of intent to participate in Governor Brad Little's plan that leverages federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries and gives cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers. Under the plan, Idaho property taxpayers in participating cities or counties could see a 10- to 20-percent one-time reduction in their property taxes this year. # # # NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary 208-943-1686 or marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov -- Sign up to receive news from Governor Little Reply to this e-mail to unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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